Chapter 9: The Awakening: First Battle and Yin Harmony
It had been exactly fifteen minutes since Gabriel departed from the safety platform. Running at a fast pace, he soon came across a fork in the road. After a brief pause to assess his options, he chose the left path, which led toward a dense green forest.
As Gabriel ventured deeper into the forest, he encountered three wild wolves, all ranked 1★ - Iron stage. Despite the danger, he remained calm, carefully observing the wolves' movements to assess the situation. Before making a move, he checked the information panel to gather details about the wolves' strengths and weaknesses.
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[Name: Forest Wolf]
[HP: 300/300]
[Mana: 200/200]
[Physical Attack: 30-60]
[Rank: Iron ★]
[Skills: Bite, Bleed, Scar...]
[Description: In the forest, there exists a pack of magical beasts known for their roaming tendencies. These creatures are highly territorial and often attack in groups, making them formidable opponents for any adventurer. Their attacks can cause a bleeding effect, leading to sustained damage over time. It is important to exercise caution in their territory and take appropriate measures to avoid confrontation.]
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"AWOOOOO!"
As soon as Gabriel entered their territory, the wolves became alert. Their bloody mouths opened wide, releasing an iconic howl, warning their pack that an intruder had entered their domain.
Without hesitation, the wolves charged at Gabriel, their jaws snapping as they aimed for his arm. But Gabriel was no ordinary man—he possessed a unique talent that he could activate in times of danger.
As the wolves sank their teeth into his flesh, Gabriel raised his right hand without fear and activated his talent.
"Activate Yin Harmony," he said, his voice steady.
In an instant, he cast his magic on the approaching wolves.
"Light Burst (Yin)!"
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BOOOOOM!!!
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The once silent forest echoed with the sound of an explosion as [Light Burst (Yin)] was unleashed. The brilliant light from the spell illuminated the area, and one of the wolves, caught in its path, tried in vain to dodge the attack.
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-315 HP
[Prompt: You killed the Wild Forest Wolf! Gained 16 exp!]
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Though Gabriel had eliminated one wolf, he was still outnumbered. The remaining two wolves closed in on him, attacking from both sides. They bit into his arm, their sharp teeth digging deep into his skin. To make matters worse, both wolves triggered their basic abilities, exacerbating Gabriel's injuries. One of the bites activated the [Bleeding] effect of the wolf's [Bite] skill, causing continuous damage over time. Gabriel knew he needed to act quickly to survive this deadly encounter.
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[Bite (Active skill): This active ability allows the user to sink their fangs into the target. Upon impact, there is a chance of causing a bleeding effect.
Cooldown: 10 seconds]
[Bleed (Passive skill): Once activated, this passive ability inflicts continuous damage on the enemy for a set duration. It's a valuable tool for gradually whittling down an opponent's health.
Bleeding Effect: 3 seconds
Cooldown: None]
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As the wolves' fangs tore into his arm, Gabriel's health points began to drop.
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-50 HP
-35 HP
[Bleeding] Experienced the effect!
[Health points -8, -9, -5!]
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Gabriel stood frozen for a moment, his mouth slightly agape in shock. But then, a slow, steady grin crept across his face. Without a word, he sprang into action.
Brandishing his weapon, Gabriel struck one of the snarling wolves with lightning speed. With a precise swing, he hurled the other wolf away, creating enough space to maneuver. He was a force to be reckoned with, and no wolf was going to stop him.
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-7 HP
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Without hesitation, Gabriel unleashed his magic again. He focused all his energy, casting another powerful spell.
"Light Burst (Yin)!"
A burst of radiant energy erupted from his hands, striking one of the wolves with immense force.
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-300 HP
[Prompt: You killed the Wild Forest Wolf! Gained 13 exp!]
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With only one wolf remaining, Gabriel stared down his opponent. The wolf's eyes showed a hint of fear, and it hesitated, realizing it was outmatched. The two stood still, each waiting for the other to make a move.
Suddenly, the wolf began to back away, preparing to retreat. But before it could escape, Gabriel acted quickly, unleashing another blinding burst of light that engulfed the area. The wolf stumbled, then fell lifeless to the ground.
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BOOOM!!!
-360 HP
[Prompt: You killed the Wild Forest Wolf! Gained 18 exp!]
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With the battle over, Gabriel took a deep breath, steadying himself for whatever lay ahead. He quickly checked his status panel.
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[HP: 93/200]
[Mana: 410/500]
[Level: 1]
[Exp: 47/500]
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After the intense fight with the wolves, Gabriel began to realize his lack of experience and knowledge. Though he tried to hide it, panic had set in during the battle, and he had forgotten to use his second skill to lower the damage and silence the wolves. He had also underestimated the wolves' speed, assuming he could outmaneuver them with ease.
Reflecting on his mistakes, he muttered to himself, "I need more practice if I want to survive in this world. If I had encountered a stronger opponent than these wolves, I'd probably be dead."
Feeling a renewed sense of urgency to improve, Gabriel stood up, dusted off his clothes, and began walking through the area, searching for a worthy opponent to test his abilities. With his talent deactivated, he was determined to challenge himself and gain more experience. He knew that only through constant improvement could he hope to survive future battles.
As he moved forward, Gabriel cast [Heal], replenishing his health points and preparing himself for whatever awaited him in the depths of the mystic realm.